The history of Leica lenses dates back more than 150 years and tells of innovative engineering, uncompromising precision work and outstanding quality. It is a story about masterly and legendary tools which rank among the best in the world. This applies especially to Leica M lenses. One of the most versatile among them has now been redesigned and refined to provide even more flexibility for a creative pictorial design: the Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH FLE II.
The lens combines a light wide-angle characteristic with natural-looking dimensions and is thus particularly versatile. Whether for detailed landscape shots, high-contrast pictures even in difficult light conditions or subjects in close-up range with selective focus: the Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH FLE II produces extraordinary results. Now, eleven instead of nine aperture blades are used for a visibly improved bokeh as the aperture is stopped down. In addition, the closest focusing distance is reduced from 70 to 40 centimeters. So much closeness is made possible by a patent-pending double cam unit newly developed by Leica engineers. As a result, the rotation angle of the focus ring is almost doubled to 176° in comparison to the previous model – with the same compact size of the lens. This ensures reliable, precise focusing over the entire setting range. Up to 70 centimeters, this works, as usual, via the rangefinder of all digital and analog M cameras. After a slightly perceptible resistance, the extended close-up range between 70 and 40 centimeters is exactly focusable via Live View on the screen, Visoflex viewfinder or Leica FOTOS app.
The industrial design has been brought up to date with almost unchanged dimensions – the new Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH FLE II is 2 millimeters shorter while 2 millimeters have been added to the diameter. As with the Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH, the lens hood is now round, directly integrated in the lens and can easily be retracted in and extended out at any time for even faster and more flexible handling.
